U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to reduce American troop deployments in Germany and suggested similar cuts could follow in Italy and Spain, escalating a widening rift with key European allies over Washington’s handling of the war with Iran. In a Truth Social post late Wednesday, Trump said the United States was “studying and reviewing” a possible reduction of forces in Germany, adding that a decision would be made soon. On Thursday, he extended the threat to Italy and Spain, saying both countries had not been sufficiently supportive.
The remarks came after an unusually sharp exchange with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who this week criticised the Trump administration’s strategy in Iran and said the United States was being “humiliated” by Tehran in stalled efforts to end the conflict. Trump fired back on social media, accusing Merz of interfering and claiming the German leader “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Germany has long hosted the largest U.S. military presence in Europe. Reuters reported that, as of late 2025, about 36,400 active-duty U.S. personnel were stationed there, out of more than 68,000 across the continent. Italy hosts more than 12,600 and Spain more than 3,800. The large footprint reflects Germany’s central role in NATO logistics, air operations and deterrence planning.
Despite the tension, Berlin has sought to avoid a complete rupture. Merz reiterated on Thursday that the transatlantic alliance remains central to Germany’s security policy and said his government would consider joining a mission to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz under the right conditions. Germany has also allowed some use of its military infrastructure in support of U.S. operations, though it has stopped short of direct combat involvement.
Trump’s latest threats underscore how the Iran war is deepening fractures inside NATO at a moment when Europe is already grappling with energy insecurity, pressure on supply chains and broader doubts about Washington’s reliability. For now, no final troop decision has been announced, but the warning alone has added fresh strain to one of the alliance’s most important relationships.
